Dreams
My introduction to the fascinating study of the subconscious mind began in 1978 when I attended my first lecture on dreams at the A.R.E. After following the presenter’s guidance, I was excited to discover I could remember my first complete dream—something that hadn’t happened in many years—and be able to write this dream in a notebook for further study.
Following this first dream recall experience, I mistakenly assumed it would be easy to continue the progress I had made. The road, however, was more difficult than I imagined. Not until 1990 would I hit my stride. And even then, it was a learning curve before I was able to understand and evaluate different methods that can be used to improve dream recall—or better still, advance to “incubating” dreams on specific subjects.
Since then, I have recorded over 25,000 dreams in my journals! They have provided incredible information for all aspects of my life, most especially career guidance, health, and investment activities.
I found that the following methods helped rapidly accelerate my dream recall and success with dream incubation. The final item summarizes my recent two-year study using what I call “Psychic Attunement” as an additional means to enhance dream response.
1. Remember and Recall: This is a simple yet powerful method for recalling your dreams. When you first wake up, remain motionless and try to recall if you have had a dream. If there is no dream, remain motionless and repeat the phrase: “Remember–Remember–Remember, Recall–Recall–Recall.” Say this silently to yourself several times, then wait in silence for a minute or two and see if a dream appears. If no dream comes to mind, keep repeating this phrase for five or more cycles. My experience is that this technique will bring up a dream about 30 to 50% of the time.
2. Written Recall: This method is similar to “remember and recall,” but is done in written form. Keep a pad of paper and pencil near your bed. When you first awake, write out the phrase, “Tonight I was dreaming about…” and then fill in the rest. Write whatever comes to mind.
3. Move to Another Room: If you are not dreaming in one room, try another. Observe what happens. I started this process because my master bedroom in Virginia Beach faced east across the Chesapeake Bay. When strong winds or rain came from that direction, the room was excessively noisy and I had very few dreams that I could remember. As a result, I moved to a spare bedroom on the other side of the house, which was much calmer. The result was not only a better sleep experience, but an effective way of jump-starting the dream process. Now, if I wake early and I am not having a dream, I will switch bedrooms, and typically start dreaming when I do.
4. Change Bed Positions: If changing rooms is not possible, consider re-orienting your bed. If your bed is oriented east-west, turn it in a north–south direction. Also, try sleeping with your head toward the north to see how that effects your dreams. Experiment with these positions, as they do not work the same for all.
5. Written Affirmations: Another method to increase dream recall frequency is using written affirmation statements. This is done by composing a specific, short affirmation regarding the result you wish to achieve, and then using it daily for at least 21 days. An excellent affirmation I often use is: “I am using his ever-present love to recall three psychic dreams every night now.” In practice, this phrase is written out 20 times per day for 21 days or more. I have used this method extensively. In the fall of 2004 and early 2005, for example, I used this written affirmation procedure for one month to nearly double my average dream recall from 33 to 60 per month!
6. Aromatherapy: Some scents recommended to promote vivid dreams include angelica, lavender, chamomile, and lemongrass; while more lucid dreaming can result from anise, dill, and clary. While using chamomile, I dreamt of rosewood instead; so I switched to rosewood and got good results. When it comes to aromatherapy, remain flexible to find what works best for you.
7. Burning Incense: Different incense may bring different benefits to dreaming. To increase dreaming, some sources recommend jasmine and rose. For psychic energy, eucalyptus, sandalwood, and jasmine are recommended. For spirituality, sandalwood, frankincense, and myrrh are good choices. Many suppliers offer blends of several incenses to promote dreams, and these are well worth exploring. Check out a variety of incense to find out which work best for you. I prefer lavender, jasmine, and sandalwood. I burn incense every other day in at least three locations in my home, including in my study where I write and use the computer.
8. Crystals: Crystals can be extremely useful for promoting dreaming. Begin by using a quartz crystal, perhaps held in the left hand, kept in place with tape, or by inserting it in a glove. Amethyst, rose quartz, citrine, and Herkimer diamond have also been used to improve dreams. In recent years, I have found kyanite and tiger’s eye to be highly effective. As an alternative to holding them in your hand, crystals can be taped to the wrist or on the forehead, positioned over what is often referenced as the “third eye”. Crystals can also be placed under a pillow, inside a pillowcase, on a nightstand, under the bed, or suspended over the bed. It is strongly recommended that you evaluate a crystal and its placement or location for at least two weeks to see if it is effective for you. Experiment as necessary to get the desired results, and keep records so you can tell what is working best for you. Consistency and intent are vitally important.
9. Sticky Notes: Simply write out a short dream request on a Sticky Note—and paste it on your forehead before going to sleep. (Use an additional piece of Scotch tape to firmly anchor in place, if desired.) Try this for three consecutive nights. If there is no dream on the desired subject, move on to another technique.
10. Vitamin B-6: The strongest effect I get from any supplement is with vitamin B-6, which has been referred to as the “dream” vitamin. One book even listed a side effect of B-6 may be that it causes overly vivid dreams. Consult with your physician before adding this to your regimen, and to confirm proper dosages.
11. Psychic Attunement: Along with the various dreaming techniques, I use a procedure I developed and call Psychic Attunement, which uses acupuncture to generate messages from the higher self. I have found the experience is similar to having a dream while wide awake in the middle of the day!
To start, I used an acupuncture needle near the tip of my chin, an area referred to in acupuncture texts as Ren 24. The psychic nature of this point is based on ancient wisdom traditions, and though rarely reported in contemporary literature, is highly effective in creating messages.
Over time, I stopped using acupuncture needles in favor of tiny beads called “acupuncture seeds,” which are readily available online. These very small beads are taped onto the desired point near the tip of the chin with adhesive tape and allowed to remain in place over night. My experience is that they do not create any immediate messages (like using a needle does) but when left in place overnight, they altered my dream recall dramatically. During one period, for example, I used a seed on my chin every night and my normal dream recall of 56 dreams per month jumped to 80 dreams. After three consecutive months, my overall recall averaged 95 dreams per month. Not only this, but my dreams were more vivid and lucid. So successful was this technique that, as an additional experiment I instead slept with a seed taped over my “third eye,” which wasn’t nearly as effective as when I had placed it on my chin.
In closing, a gentle reminder: What works for one individual may not be effective for another. I encourage you to experiment for yourself. In recalling and incubating your own dreams, you can gain helpful information about all aspects of your life, from career and health to investment guidance and beyond. Dream big(ger)!
Reprinted from the Fall 2017 Cayce Quarterly newsletter.
Walter Stover MA
Walter received a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and worked in research and development for two Fortune 500 Companies. He received his Master’s Degree in Transpersonal Studies in 2001 from Atlantic University and is the author of Dreams—My Lamp unto the Darkness. To participate with him in dream experiments or find out more about his research, visit stockdreams.org.